National Sports

Southern Miss tops Charleston Southern, 78-71

Jonathan Mills tried to put away Charleston Southern. So did Neil Watson. Neither could do it.

Instead, it was four points in the final 20 seconds from unheralded Rashard McGill that gave Southern Miss a 78-71 victory over Charleston Southern in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

The victory snapped a nine-game postseason losing streak that dates back to 1988. McGill hit an 18-foot jumper and two free throws – his first and only four points of the game – in the most crucial possessions of the night to seal the victory. […]

Local Sports

USM to honor ’87 NIT title team

In 1987, the Cold War was still festering, music was on cassette and cellphones were huge and for only the very rich.

And Southern Miss basketball was king of the National Invitational Tournament.

That year, the Golden Eagles won five games, four of them on the road, to take the NIT championship at the Madison Square Garden for the school’s lone national title in basketball. […]

Local Sports

East Carolina downs Southern Mississippi 24-14

Shane Carden threw for 171 yards and a touchdown and East Carolina capitalized on three third-quarter turnovers to beat Southern Mississippi 24-14 Saturday in the Conference USA opener for both teams.

The Pirates (2-1) trailed 7-3 at halftime, but forced freshman quarterback Anthony Alford of Southern Mississippi (0-2) into an interception and two fumbles on three third-quarter drives, which led to three touchdowns. […]